Follow the link to a press release from Audi AG about their new "Multitronic" transmission.

Multitronic? Can't they think up better names?

Matt<ul><li><a href="http://www.a4.org/news/100699.html">Audi Multitronic Transmission</a></li></ul>

I would guess that it will be available on the other Audi models sometime next year (in Germany) and would probably make it's way to the U.S. after - I would guess the 2001 model year at the earliest for the state, even then it may only be on the 'upper' models like the A6 and A8. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Matt

I never thought I'd consider an "automatic" transmission but it makes all the difference in the world if it actually performs *better* than an optimally operated manual transmission. Does this mean the end of the standard manual transmission with a clutch? That would be very sad at the same time.

99.5 1.8TQM

this was first mentioned about a year ago. hey, anyone notice BMW's new auto-manual? its a 5-speed stick, with no clutch. neet.

Francis Y.
'98.5 Cactus Green 1.8TQTipSX/APR

Being that it's a CVT (as i continously variable), I bet they could engineer a little "clutch slippage" into it.

I think it would make engineering sense, too - because it would be easier on the engine/transmission.

Just a thought,
adc

It was on this TV show I saw while in europe. The whole concept behind it was similar to that of a tiptronic transmission, but it's ratios would be determined "on demand" - in a similar fashion that this new multitronic transmission does. It appeared very similar to the transmissions in cars like the new Ferrari 360 Modena. It had a display on the dash telling you what gear you were in, or if you were in "automatic" mode, represented by an "A". Very interesting figures this tranmission produced, being faster than it's counterpart in both automatic and manual versions. I honestly think the future of clutch and shiftknob is looking gloomy, yes it will be sad, but hey, if it gets more out of the engine (which this multitronic does) then I personally am all for it.

-mF
99.5 1.8TQM